Bo Shang

Northeastern University, City College of New York

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Bo Shang is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics, archaeology, and civil infrastructure inspection. His work focuses on developing autonomous robotic systems that can operate in challenging, unstructured environments—from subterranean caves to aging concrete bridges. Shang’s most influential contribution is the “SmartCaveDrone” concept, which reimagines drones as “Co-Archaeologists.” This system, detailed in his highly cited 2017 paper (28 citations), enables UAVs to autonomously map large, dangerous caves using RGB-D data, producing accurate 3D models and semantic maps under human supervision. This work has opened new frontiers for non-invasive archaeological exploration. More recently, Shang has advanced the field of structural health monitoring. His 2025 paper (8 citations) introduces a comprehensive robotic inspection system that integrates data collection, visual analysis, and subsurface mapping to localize and visualize defects in concrete infrastructure. By combining robotics with data analytics, Shang is creating tools that make infrastructure assessment safer, faster, and more precise. His research demonstrates a rare ability to bridge field robotics with real-world applications in heritage preservation and civil engineering.